In spite of numerous stories of gigantic advances in wages immediately following the Revolution of March, 1917, these figures, which were published by the Ministry of Labour as characteristic of conditions all over Russia, show that wages did not rise immediately after the Revolution, but little by little. On an average, wages increased slightly more than 500 per cent .

But at the same time the value of the ruble fell to less than one-third its former purchasing power, and the cost of the necessities of life increased enormously.

The following table was compiled by the Municipal Duma of Moscow, where food was cheaper and more plentiful than in Petrograd:

Cost of Food(Rubles and Kopeks)

August 1914

August 1917

% Increase

Black bread

(Fund)

.02 1/2

.12

330

White bread

(Fund)

.05

.20

300

Beef

(Fund)

.22

1.10

400

Veal

(Fund)

.26

2.15

727

Pork

(Fund)

.23

2.

770

Herring

(Fund)

.06

.52

767

Cheese

(Fund)

.40

3.50

754

Butter

(Fund)

.48

3.20

557

Eggs

(Doz.)

.30

1.60

443

Milk

(Krushka)

.07

.40

471

On an average, food increased in price 556 per cent, or 51 per cent more than wages.

As for the other necessities, the price of these increased tremendously.

The following table was compiled by the Economic section of the Moscow Soviet of Workers Deputies, and accepted as correct by the Ministry of Supplies of the Provisional Government.

Cost of Other Necessities(Rubles and Kopeks)

August 1914

August 1917

% Increase

Calico

(Arshin)

.11

1.40

1173

Cotton cloth

(Arshin)

.15

2.

1233

Dress Goods

(Arshin)

2.

40.

1900

Castor Cloth

(Arshin)

6.

80.

1233

Mens Shoes

(Pair)

12.

144.

1097

Sole Leather

20.

400.

1900

Rubbers

(Pair)

2.50

15.

500

Mens Clothing

(Suit)

40.

400. 455.

9001109

Tea

(Fund)

4.50

18.

300

Matches

(Carton)

.10

.50

400

Soap

(Pood)

4.50

40.

780

Gasoline

(Vedro)

1.70

11.

547

Candles

(Pood)

8.50

100.

1076

Caramel

(Fund)

.30

4.50

1400

Fire Wood

(Load)

10.

120.

1100

Charcoal

.80

13.

1525

Sundry Metal Ware

1.

20.

1900

On an average, the above categories of necessities increased about 1,109 per cent in price, more than twice the increase of salaries. The difference, of course, went into the pockets of speculators and merchants.

In September, 1917, when I arrived in Petrograd, the average daily wage of a skilled industrial workerfor example, a steel-worker in the Putilov Factorywas about 8 rubles. At the same time, profits were enormous . I was told by one of the owners of the Thornton Woollen Mills, an English concern on the outskirts of Petrograd, that while wages had increased about 300 per cent in his factory, his profits had gone up 900 per cent.